BCS Barbecue - Bethesda, MD

I drive past BCS Barbecue everyday on my way to and from work, so the bf and I tried it one lazy weekend. The original Bethesda Community Store has been in operation since 1924 and more recently added this barbecue to their menu in a separate structure practically next door. The place is about the size of a food truck. Located in a small parking lot, there are a few picnic tables if you want to hang around.

Conveniently, the menu is right there! The menu isn't huge but has something for everyone.

We brought our food over to the picnic area and shared it with some employees enjoying the weekend.

The bf decided on the Smoked Brisket Platter (Hearty Potato Salad & Spicy Red Beans and Rice) for $8.50. He found the sandwich to be okay. However, the rice was undercooked and hard, and the beans and potato salad were unmemorable.

I had my heart set on trying the Lobster Roll (Mac & Cheese and Baked Beans) for $17.50. The baked beans weren't tender enough, and the mac & cheese was mushy. I don't have another lobster roll experience to compare this to, but I thought it was boring. Granted it was a lot lobster (hence the price) but it's literally lobster in a hot dog bun. I didn't taste any seasoning or sauce, but maybe that's how they all are?

I haven't found a BBQ place that I love. I was hoping this was it, but it wasn't. We thought the prices were a bit high for food that seemed over or under cooked. I'm all for supporting our historic establishments, but they have a lot to work on. Anyone have a favorite BBQ place to recommend?


8804 Old Georgetown Rd
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-564-1009
11 AM to 7 PM - Seven days a week

Take a Bite out of Breast Cancer!

Hey guys, did you ever think that Breast Cancer awareness could be served on a plate? Well this October in the DC Metropolitan area it will - with Take a Bite out of Breast Cancer.

For the entire month of October, DC area chefs and restaurateurs have committed their establishments for one day, a week, or the entire month, and will generously donate a portion of their food and beverage sales to Take a Bite out of Breast Cancer - an outreach and fundraising campaign focusing on educating Washington, DC area residents about the importance of early detection and awareness and supports Pink Jams!, a DC area non-profit promoting breast cancer awareness to young men and women.

Did you know that Washington, DC has the highest breast cancer death rate for women in the United States? Many of those deaths are due to late diagnosis, and could have possibly been avoided through early detection and an understanding of risk factors. It is the mission of Pink Jams! to reach out to men and women under the age of 40 and help promote breast cancer awareness by combining this important message with fashion, art, social events, live music and now dining! Pink Jams! was founded in 2009, after the loss of a 35 year old friend by Christa Floresca, a DC area native.

There are more than a dozen DC area restaurants that have generously agreed to participate to help Pink Jams! achieve this important awareness mission. Check out the full list.

I have been lucky enough to become an Ambassador for Chef Tony's in Bethesda, MD! They have generously signed up to participate EVERY Wednesday of October! For those like myself that live or work in Maryland, you won't have to worry about fighting through rush hour traffic to get into DC to participate.

I will be there on Oct. 19th for dinner and would love to meet you guys! Bring your friends and family to any of those nights to show your support for this great cause. Let's PACK THE HOUSE! Don't hesitate to make reservations on opentable.com either.

Let me know if you have any questions, and thank you for your support!

$10 DC VegFest winner is......

$10 DC VegFest winner is...... Jed S-A! Email me: ASAP so I can mail them to you in the morning or arrange a meet up time.

Thanks everyone for participating. I didn't think I would get so many great answers! I've learned that there are a lot of passionate vegetarians, vegans and folks like myself who want to learn.

Lets hope for nice weather and see you guys Saturday =)

FYI: Winner was picked using random.org

DC VegFest - Sept. 24th

Hey guys! Back from our trip to San Francisco and wanted to let you know about DC VegFest! I'll be there this Saturday with some friends and my doggie. Check out the info:

The DC VegFest is the largest vegetarian celebration in the Metro area, attracting several thousand attendees each year. Offering a great time for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike, this free outdoor festival will showcase over 75 exhibitors and provides an opportunity to try free food samples, hear from dynamic speakers, see cooking demonstrations, explore delicious meat-free cuisine, and shop from several stores. Attendees can even get their cholesterol checked for free.

WHAT: DC VegFest 
WHEN: Sat., Sept. 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (rain or shine)
WHERE: University Yard at George Washington Univ. (H St. between 20th/21st Sts., NW)
METRO: four blocks from the Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro station.

I'm looking forward to the 19 food vendors! The first 500 attendees will also receive a gift bag of goodies.

Co-organized by D.C.-based nonprofits, Compassion Over Killing and the Vegetarian Society of D.C.

Quick Giveaway:
$10 in DC VegFest Bucks to use towards food at the event!
Comment about why you'll be attending the event by 11:59pm 9/21/11. Sorry it's so short, but I need time to mail them out.

Come support and learn something new. See y'all there!

Il Pizzico Review/Rockville Restaurant Week 2011 Info

Rockville Restaurant Week starts tomorrow! September 10-18, 2011 with pre-fixed menus priced at either $8 lunch/$15 for dinner or $15 lunch/$30 dinner depending on the restaurant.

Participating:
Aladdin Indian Kitchen
Amici Miei Ristorante
Baronessa Italian Restaurant
The Bean Bag Deli & Catering Company
Gilly's Craft Beer & Fine Wine
Gordon Biersch
Il Pizzico
La Tasca
Mosaic Cuisine Cafe
Nick's Chophouse
Oro Pomodoro
Phillips Seafood
The Potomac Grill
Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company
Spice Xing
Stella Restaurant
Sushi Damo
Taste of Saigon
Thai Pavilion
Timpano Italian Chophouse

To help promote the week, I was given a $25 gift certificate to try Il Pizzico. The bf and I had been meaning to try this place for a while. Located at the intersection of E. Gude Drive and 355, it's hidden among the car dealers and repair shops. There is a limited parking around the building.

The interior looks nicer and bigger than the outside. The decor is classy and simple and has a wall filled with awards near the entrance.

The bread was soft and served with a black olive spread.

Each table had a tiny rosemary plant! So cute.

We shared an Insalata di mare (steamed scallops, calamari, shrimp and mussels, marinated with garlic, olive oil and lemon)  for $9.95. The dish was served cold, and it was tasty! Perfectly cooked with the right amount of oil and acidity. They did not skimp on the seafood.

The bf ordered the Tagliatelle in salsa di granchio (homemade fettuccine with crab meat, garlic, olive oil, chilies and white wine) for $15.95. There was a large amount of crab! He thought it was good, but actually preferred mine because of the richness, so we switched half way through. I liked his because of the freshness.

I chose the Ravioli di funghi al pistacchio (homemade ravioli filled with mushrooms and ricotta served with pistachio-cream sauce) for $15.95. Very good and creamy! The pistachio gave it a unique flavor. The mushrooms and ricotta made for a flavorful filling.

We ended our dinner sharing a Tiramisu ($8.25). It was topped with so much cocoa powder that we were about to cough off the first bite. Otherwise, it tasted good. There was more mascarpone than ladyfingers, which the bf preferred. We thought the price was a bit steep for the size though.

The menu had a lot of different dishes with pastas around $15 and meats in the low $20s. The homemade pastas really sets this place apart because you don't see that often! The portion size allows for you to be full, but you won't need a doggy bag. I can't say enough about the service. We were insanely impressed! I watched these servers work the whole restaurant (not just us) and they were on point. Friendly, efficient, helpful and professional to all of their customers.

If you're planning on trying a pre-fixed menu for Rockville Restaurant Week, I would recommend this place for a nicer dinner or date.

15209 Frederick Rd
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 309-0610
www.ilpizzico.com

Baked & Wired - Georgetown, DC

I've heard crazy buzz surrounding this bakery, and it's been long overdue for me to try it. Recently the bf and I were able to stop by Baked & Wired! Look at the adorable doggie water bowl outside.
It's in Georgetown, so there's street/neighborhood parking and plenty of parking garages. The closest metro stop would be Foggy Bottom-GWU on the Blue/Orange line.

The bakery has more of a hip, coffeehouse vibe. The display is enormous and showcases each cupcake individuality. They don't only serve cupcakes, so you can have pie, scones, muffins, etc. I don't know the prices for anything other than the cupcakes (sorry!), which were $3.50 each.

I appreciated the customized cupcake liner, which was basically folded parchment paper. Each flavor has a little label and description. Ah, so cute. We ended up sharing a Red Velvet cupcake, and the bf thought it was the best he has ever tried because the cake was very dense, moist and had a great cream cheese icing to top it off.

The other part of the bakery brews Direct Trade coffee and looseleaf tea. Without understanding what he was drinking, the bf ordered a cold-brewed coffee and added simple syrup and milk. He loves Starbucks, so he thought it was good, not great.

In the back, there's a small lounge area to sip on your drinks and nibble on your pastries.

We ate and drank our goodies as we strolled through the picturesque streets of Georgetown.

I adored the vibe and image of the bakery. The bf liked the cupcake more than other place I've made him try (oh, the life of a blogger bf), so I highly recommend it. It's nice that they serve a variety of baked goods, drinks, and offer over 20 different cupcake flavors.

1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-2500
www.bakedandwired.com